Cable support and method

ABSTRACT

A cable support has a saddle, and a hinged part that can be engaged with a slot in the cable support to close an opening for placing cables into the saddle. The saddle has a curved inner surface, bulging at middle of the surface and curving away toward the longitudinal edges. The hinged part has a resilient finger tab that releasably fits into slot in the support to close the opening. An insert may be placed in a cable-receiving area of the support to divide the area into plural cable-receiving pockets. The insert may include hooks that engage an insert guide rail of the cable support.

This application claims priority under 35 USC 119 to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/853,667, filed Oct. 23, 2006, and to U.S. ProvisionalApplication No. 60/856,998, filed Nov. 6, 2006. Both of the aboveapplications are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Technical Field of the Invention

The invention relates in general to cable supports and methods.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,740,994 describes a variety of J-hook cable supportsthat are usable with high performance communications cable, as well asother types of cables. Such cable supports allow cables to be supportedwithout constrictions on the cables, and without damage to the cables.Cable supports of this sort are available from ERICO InternationalCorporation, of Solon, Ohio, USA.

Despite the benefits of J-hook cable supports previously available fromERICO International Corporation, improvements in this area are possible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to an aspect of the invention, a cable support has acable-receiving saddle with a curved inner surface that bulges in thelongitudinal middle of the saddle, and curves away toward longitudinaledges of the saddle. The curved inner saddle surface prevents cableslaid in the support from getting kinks or overly tight bends.

According to another aspect of the invention, a cable support may havean insert placed in a cable-receiving area that divides thecable-receiving area into plural cable-receiving pockets.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a cable support has acable-receiving saddle hingedly attached to hinged part that selectivelyopens and closes an opening for placing cables onto the cable-receivingarea. The hinged part and the saddle may be formed from the same singlepiece of material, with the hinge being a thinner or otherwise weakenedportion of the material. The hinged part may have a resilient finger tabthat engages a slot in order to close the cable opening.

According to still another aspect of the invention, an insert may beinserted into a bunch of cables to separate the cables apart from oneanother, to provide better heat dissipation from the cables and/or toreduce alien crosstalk in the cables.

According to another aspect of the invention, inserts, either in oroutside of cable support may be twisted by varying amounts to reduce oreliminate alien crosstalk in cables in cable-receiving pockets of theinserts.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a cable support has anintegrated cable securing and locking finger tab, a flexible tab with alocking wedge on a free end. The tab rotates to allow large opening forcable insertion and retention.

According a still further aspect of the invention, a cable support hasguide rails that allow an insert in the cable support to rotate freelywithin the cable support. The cable support may have a locking tab orother means to hold the insert in place.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of supportingcables includes randomly placing cables in inserts at differentlongitudinal locations along the length of the cables.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method of reducingalien crosstalk or noise includes shifting cables from one pocket of aninsert to another. Different combinations of cables may be in differentpockets of different inserts.

According to still another aspect of the invention, a cable supportincludes: a cable-receiving saddle; and a hinged part hingedly coupledto the saddle. The hinged part rotates about the saddle at a hinge. Thehinged part and the saddle are at least in part made from a continuoussingle piece of material. The hinge is a weakened portion of the singlepiece of material that is weaken than adjacent portions of the saddleand the hinged part. The hinged part includes a tab that is selectivelyengaged with a slot in the cable support to selectively close an openingproviding access to the saddle.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a cable supportincludes: a cable-receiving saddle that defines a cable-receiving area;and an insert that fits into the cable-receiving saddle. The insertdivides the cable receiving area into a plurality of cable-receivingpockets.

According to a still further aspect of the invention, a method ofinstalling cables includes: placing the cables in plural cable supports,wherein at least one of the cable supports includes an insert thatdivides a cable-receiving area into plural cable-receiving pockets;testing the cables for alien crosstalk; and if necessary, reconfiguringthe cables within the cable supports to reduce alien crosstalk.

According to another aspect of the invention, a method of installingcables includes: spreading the cables apart using inserts, wherein theinserts include a central body and plural legs extending outward fromthe central body, wherein the plural legs define plural cable-receivingpockets, and wherein the cables each pass through one of the pockets;and supporting the cables with plural cable supports.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a cable supportincludes: a cable-receiving saddle; and a hinged part hingedly coupledto the saddle. The hinged part rotates about the saddle at a hinge. Thehinge includes a pin that fits into openings in the saddle and thehinged part.

According to still another aspect of the invention, a method ofinstalling cables includes the steps of: spreading the cables apartusing inserts that define plural cable-receiving pockets, wherein thecables each pass through one of the pockets; and supporting the cableswith plural cable supports.

According to a further aspect of the invention, a cable separatorincludes: plural first structures that define plural cable-receivingpockets between respective adjacent pairs of the structures; and asecond structure connected to and supporting all of the firststructures.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the inventioncomprises the features hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims. The following description and the annexeddrawings set forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of theinvention. These embodiments are indicative, however, of but a few ofthe various ways in which the principles of the invention may beemployed. Other objects, advantages and novel features of the inventionwill become apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the annexed drawings, which are not necessarily to scale:

FIG. 1 is an oblique view of a first embodiment cable support inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the cable support of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a back view of the cable support of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating coupling together of apair of the cable supports of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an oblique view of the cable support of FIG. 1 mounted to avertical wall in a vertical orientation;

FIG. 6 is an oblique view of the cable support of FIG. 1 mounted to avertical wall in a horizontal orientation;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the cable support of FIG. 1 mounted to aceiling;

FIG. 8 is an oblique view of the cable support of FIG. 1 assembled toone form of screw-on beam flange clamp and being secured to a beamflange;

FIG. 9 is an oblique view of the cable support of FIG. 1 attached toanother form screw-on flange clamp;

FIG. 10 is an oblique view of the cable support of FIG. 1 assembled tohammer-on beam flange clip and secured to a beam flange;

FIG. 11 is an oblique view of the cable support of FIG. 1 secured to aclip in turn suspended from a C-purlin vertical flange;

FIG. 12 is a view of the cable support of FIG. 1 secured to a clip inturn suspended from a Z-purlin;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary view of the cable support of FIG. 1 secured toa clip in turn secured to drop wire, which can be a vertical hanging rodor a vertical or horizontal flange;

FIG. 14 is an oblique view of the cable support of FIG. 1 secured to ahammer-on bottom mount flange clip with an intermediate angle bracket;

FIG. 15 is a side view of a tree connection of a pair of the cablesupports of FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is a side view of a back-to-back connection of a pair of thecable supports of FIG. 1;

FIG. 17 is a side view showing coupling of several of the cable supportsof FIG. 1, utilizing both tree coupling and back-to-back coupling;

FIG. 18 is an oblique view showing a front part of a first alternateembodiment cable support in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 19 is an oblique view showing a back part of the cable support ofFIG. 18;

FIG. 20 is a side view of the cable support of FIG. 18;

FIG. 21 is an oblique view of an insert installed in the cable supportof FIG. 18;

FIG. 22 is an exploded view of the cable support and insert of FIG. 21;

FIG. 23 is an oblique view of the insert of FIG. 21;

FIG. 24A is an oblique view showing an example cable run using the cablesupports of FIGS. 18 and 21;

FIG. 24B is an oblique view of another example cable run, using insertsor cable spreaders at cable sag locations;

FIG. 24C is an oblique view of a first cable spreader or insert used inthe installation of FIG. 24B;

FIG. 24D is an oblique view of a first cable spreader or insert used inthe installation of FIG. 24B;

FIG. 25 is an oblique view of a second alternate embodiment cablesupport in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 26 is an oblique view showing a pair of the cable supports of FIG.25 coupled together in a tree configuration;

FIG. 27 is an oblique view of a third alternate embodiment cable supportin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 28 is an oblique view of a fourth alternate embodiment cablesupport in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 29 is an oblique view of a fifth alternate embodiment cable supportin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 30 is an oblique view of a sixth alternate embodiment cable supportin accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 31 is an exploded view of the cable support of FIG. 30; and

FIG. 32 is an oblique view of an alternate embodiment cable supportinsert in accordance with the present invention; and

FIG. 33 is an oblique view an insert or cable separator in accordancewith an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A cable support has a saddle, and a hinged part that can be engaged witha slot in the cable support to close an opening for placing cables intothe saddle. The saddle has a curved inner surface, bulging at middle ofthe surface and curving away toward the longitudinal edges. The hingedpart has a resilient finger tab that releasably fits into slot in thesupport to close the opening. An insert may be placed in acable-receiving area of the support to divide the area into pluralcable-receiving pockets. The insert may include hooks that engage aguide rail of the cable support. In addition, inserts may be placedbetween cable supports, either alone or with a strap around the insertto aid in retaining cables. Whether in or in between the cable supports,the inserts divide up and spread out the cables in a bundle or group ofcables. This may advantageously reduce alien crosstalk between thecables. In addition, spreading out the cables allows more space for airto flow around the cables, increasing the heat dissipation from thecables. Further steps may be taken to reduce or eliminate aliencrosstalk between individual of the cables. Such steps include movingcables to different pockets defined by the inserts, rotating inserts tochange relative orientation of cables, and adding additional inserts.The cable supports and the inserts may be used with high performancecommunication cable, such as installations of Category 6, Category 6A,Category 7, or higher Category cable. Further, the heat dissipationcharacteristics of the inserts provide advantages of installationsinvolving power transmission along cables, such as power over Ethernetinstallations.

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-3, a cable support 10 includes asemicircular cable-receiving saddle 12 protruding from a verticalbackbone 14. The saddle 12 has a curved inner surface 16 that is bulgedtoward the longitudinal middle of the saddle 12, and that curves awaytoward edges 18 and 20 of the saddle 12. The saddle curved inner surface16 has a radius of curvature of at least 2 inches (5 cm), and may have aradius of curvature of at least 2.5 inches (6.3 cm). The saddle curvedinner surface 16 helps in maintaining a minimum radius of curvature forcables in the cable support 10 supported by the saddle 12. The radius ofthe curved inner surface 16 may be selected to maintain a minimum radiusrequired for installations of Category 6, Category 6A, Category 7, orhigher Category cable. It will be appreciated that other suitable radiiof curvature may be selected, for instance to conform with other minimumcable radii of curvature. The edges 18 and 20 are rounded edges tofurther prevent damage to cables.

The curved inner surface 16 of the saddle 12 provides a lower boundaryto a cable-receiving area 22 of the cable support 10. Cables 23 areplaced in the cable-receiving area 22, and rest on the saddle 12. Asdescribed in greater detail below, the cable support 10 includes partsfor selectively opening and closing access to the cable-receiving area22. Access to the area 22 can be provided to introduce cables in thearea 22. Access can then be closed off to secure cables within thecable-receiving area 22.

The saddle 12 has three ribs 24 on its outer surface 26. The ribs 24 runin a circumferential direction, and are separated in a longitudinal(axial) direction along the saddle outer surface 26. The ribs 24 provideadditional strength to the saddle 12. The illustrated embodiment hasthree ribs 24, but it will be appreciated that alternatively a differentnumber of ribs may used.

The backbone 14 is used for mounting the cable support to variousstructures. The backbone 14 also may provide support for the other partsof the cable support 10. An upper backbone part 30 has upper holes 32,34, and 36 for receiving various types of fasteners. For example, theupper holes 32-36 can include a rivet hole, a nail or screw hole toallow a nail or screw to pass through, and a threaded hole for receivinga threaded fastener such as a bolt. Threads for a threaded hole may besupplied by a threaded insert in the upper backbone part 30.

A lower backbone part 40 has a lower hole 42. The upper holes 32-36 andthe lower hole 42 may be used to mount the cable support 10 to any of avariety or structures in any of a variety of orientations, as isdescribed further below. In addition, the backbone parts 30 and 40 maybe configured allow multiple of the cable supports 10 to be directlymechanically coupled together in any of a variety of orientations. As isdescribed in greater detail below, cable supports 10 may be joined backto back, and may be joined in a tree configuration, with the upperbackbone part 30 of one cable support 10 secured to the lower backbonepart 40 of another cable support 10.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the upper backbone part 30 is a malepart that is designed to mate with the female lower backbone part 40 (ofanother cable support 10). The lower backbone part 40 is hollow, and isdesigned to receive the thinner and narrower upper backbone part 30.Engagement between the backbone parts 30 and 40 of two cable supports 10and 10′ is illustrated in FIG. 4 (and is also described further below inconnection with FIG. 15). The parts 30 and 40 are correspondingly keyed.The upper backbone part 30 has grooves 44 and 46 along its sidesurfaces. The lower backbone part 40 has corresponding protrusions 48and 50 within a hollow 54. As the upper backbone part 30 slides into thehollow 54 of the lower backbone part 40, the protrusions 48 and 50 fitinto the grooves 44 and 46. This ensures a proper fit between the parts30 and 40, and helps maintain engagement of the parts 30 and 40.

The holes 32 and 42 may be configured such that the holes 32 and 42 arealigned when the upper backbone part 30 is fully inserted into the lowerbackbone part 40. A threaded fastener, such as a bolt, may be threadedinto a threaded insert 56 in the upper backbone part 30 to secure thecable supports 10 and 10′ together.

It will be appreciated that many alternatives are possible for theabove-described engagement of the backbone parts 30 and 40 of differentcable supports 10 and 10′. The male and female functions of the parts 30and 40 may be swapped. The protrusions 48 and 50 and the grooves 44 and46 may be swapped between the parts 30 and 40. The protrusions 48 and 50and the grooves 44 and 46 also may be configured differently. Furtheralternative engagement mechanisms are described below with regard toother embodiments.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1, the backbone 14 does not runcontinuously from top to bottom of the cable support 10. Rather thebackbone parts 30 and 40 may be separate parts in that they are notdirectly connected together. Alternatively, the backbone 14 may be asingle piece running continuously from top to bottom of the cablesupport 10.

The cable support 10 has a hinge 58 at a distal end 60 of the saddle 12.The hinge 58 is a joint that allows hinged part 62 to pivot relative tosaddle 12. The hinge 58 is an integral hinge that is a feature of thematerial of the cable support 10, in contrast to involving separatemechanically engaged parts. The hinge 58 may be a weakened portion ofmaterial, weaker than the adjacent material of the saddle 12 and thehinged part 62. Since the hinge 58 is weaker than the adjacent material,bending preferentially occurs at the hinge 58. The hinge 58 may be athinner portion of material, thinner than the adjacent material of thesaddle 12 and the hinged part 62. Other ways of weakening the materialare also possible, such as by cutting a slot or notches in the material.In addition, it will be appreciated that the hinge 58 alternatively mayinclude two or more separate parts that are mechanically coupledtogether to allow relative rotation or pivoting.

The hinged part 62 includes a stem 64 that is linked to the hinge 58 atone end, and has a resilient finger tab 66 at an opposite free end. Thestem 64 may be biased to stick straight up substantially parallel to thebackbone 14 when no force is applied to the move the hinged part 62about the hinge 58. This leaves an opening 67 between the stem 64 andthe backbone 14 for inserting cables into the cable-receiving area 22.

The tab 66 engages a tab-receiving slot 68 in a housing 70 that iscoupled to the saddle 12 and the backbone 14. The tab 66 has an uppertab portion 72 and a lower tab portion 74 that are linked at a nose 76.The tab portions 72 and 74 meet at the nose 76, and are angled away fromeach other when no force is applied to them. The tab portions 72 and 74may be resiliently brought together by application of force, such as bya user squeezing together with his or her fingers. The nose 76 thus actsas a hinge linking the tab portions 72 and 74. The nose 76 may be athinner or otherwise weaker than the material of the tab portions 72 and74.

The upper tab portion 72 has a wedge 80 on its top surface. The narrowend of the wedge 80 is toward the nose 76, with the wedge 80 becomingthicker as it is further from the nose 76. The tab portions 72 and 74may be squeezed together to insert the tab 66 into the tab-receivingslot 68. Insertion of the tab 66 into the slot 68 closes the opening 67in the cable-receiving portion of the cable support 10. When the tabportions 72 and 74 are released they resiliently expand to fill the slot68. The thick end of the wedge 80 facilitates maintaining the tab 66within the slot 68. With the opening 67 closed off, cables are securedwithin the cable-receiving area 22 of the support 10. Optionally, asecond wedge may be added on the lower tab portion 74 to provideimproved retention of the finger tab 66 in the slot 68.

To release the resilient finger tab 66, the tab portions 72 and 74 aresqueezed together by a user pressing them together at their free ends.This reduces the thickness of the tab 66 enough to allow the wedge 80 topass through the slot 68. The user can then grip the tab portions 72 and74 and pull the tab 66 out of the slot 68. It will be appreciated thatthe squeezing and the gripping and pulling described above may beessentially a single fluid movement executed by a user. Releasing thefinger tab 66 allows removal of cables and/or insertion of more cables.

The stem 64 has a curved inner stem surface 82 that faces thecable-receiving area 22. The inner stem surface 82 may havesubstantially the same curvature as the saddle inner surface 16. Thecurved inner stem surface 82 helps prevent unacceptable bends in cableswithin the cable-receiving area 22.

The housing 70 is hollow, although it may have internal supportingstructures such as ribs. The housing 70 has an angled top surface 84, anangled bottom surface 86, and a pair of triangular sides 88 and 89. Theangled top surface 84 is angled down in the direction away from thebackbone 14. The angled bottom surface 86 is angled up in the samedirection, away from the backbone 14. The angled surfaces 84 and 86 maybe angled at approximately 45-degree angles to the backbone 14, andtherefore oriented at a right angle relative to each other. A blunt tip90 at the intersection of the angled surfaces 84 and 86 avoids sharpcorners that could damage cables.

The top angled surface 84 has the tab-receiving slot 68 therein. Thebottom angled surface 86 is curved, presenting a curved face toward thecable-receiving area 22. The curvature of the bottom housing surface 86may be substantially the same as that of the curved saddle surface 16and the inner stem surface 82. Thus when the cable-receiving area 22 isclosed, the cables secured within the area 22 may be surrounded bycurved surfaces that prevent undesirable sharp bends in the cables.

The cable support 10 may be made of a suitable molded plastic, forexample being produced by injection molding. Parts of the cable support10 may be inserts made of suitable metal, such as steel, aluminum,copper, or zinc. Examples of such inserts include a threaded insert forthe top backbone portion 30, and a strengthening plate for the backbone14. Such inserts may be placed at suitable locations in a mold formaking the molded plastic cable support 10.

Alternatively the cable support 10 may be made of other suitablematerials, such as suitable metals. Examples of suitable metals includemild steel, stainless steel, spring steel, copper, aluminum, and zinc. Ametal cable support may be made using processes such as stamping,casting, extruding, and machining.

The cable support 10 may be made in any of a variety of sizes. Forexample, the cable-receiving area 22 may have a diameter of 0.75 inches(1.9 cm), 1.3 inches (3.3 cm), or 2 inches (5.1 cm). It will beappreciated that the cable support 10 may have other sizes, larger orsmaller than the above example sizes. Cable supports 10 of differentsizes may have backbone portions 30 and 40 of the same sizes, allowingdifferent sizes of cable supports to be coupled together.

It will be appreciated that the cable support 10 may be used for holdingitems other than cables. A wide variety of tubular and other elongaterigid and flexible items may be placed in and supported by the cablesupport 10.

FIGS. 5-17 illustrate the cable support 10 installed in a variety ofdifferent ways, coupled to different structural elements in differentorientations. FIG. 5 shows the cable support 10 attached in a verticalorientation to a vertical wall 91, for a horizontal cable run. The cablesupport 10 may be attached to the wall by use of a screw or nail 92passing through one of the holes 32-36 in the top backbone portion 30. Asecond screw or nail 94 may optionally pass through the hole 42 in thebottom backbone portion 40, to more securely mount the cable support 10.

FIG. 6 shows the cable support 10 attached to the vertical wall 91 in ahorizontal orientation, using both of the screws or nails 92 and 94. Inthis orientation the cable support 10 supports a vertical cable run. Itwill be appreciated that the ability of the cable support 10 tomechanically close to secure cables in the cable-receiving area 22 aidsin keeping the supported cables in place.

In FIG. 7 the cable support 10 is attached to a ceiling 96. The screwsor nails 92 and 94 may engage the ceiling or a stud to attach the cablesupport 10 to the ceiling 96. The cable support 10 in this orientationcan be used to support a cable run along a ceiling. The locking featurefor the cable-receiving area 22 keeps the cables in place. The curvedsurfaces surrounding the cable-receiving area 22 prevent sharp bends inthe cables, no matter what the orientation is of the cable support 10.

FIG. 8 shows the cable support 10 attached to a beam 102 which includestypically a top flange 103, a bottom flange 104, and a web 105therebetween. The lower flange 104 has an edge 106 that receives avariety of hammer-on or screw-on clamps or clips utilized to support avariety of items. A screw-on clamp 108 is coupled to the cable support10, and is installed on the flange edge 106. An example of the clamp 108is a big beam clamp sold by ERICO International Corporation of Solon,Ohio, U.S.A., under the part number BC400 and under the trademark CADDY.The clamp 108 has a generally U-shape configuration. The cable support10 is preassembled or attached to the bight portion of the U-shape bodyby a rivet 109. The U-shape body slips over the flange edge 106, and aheavy duty bolt 110 extending through a threaded hole 111 in the upperleg of the clamp 108 is employed to clamp the assembly firmly in placeon the lower flange 104 of the beam 103.

FIG. 9 shows the cable support 10 attached to another type of screw-onbeam hanger 113. The beam hanger 113 is sold by ERICO InternationalCorporation of Solon, Ohio, U.S.A. under the part number BC. The clamp113 fits beam flanges up to 0.5 inches (1.27 cm) thick. The beam clamp113 has a sheet metal body 114 formed in the U-shape configuration. Abolt 115 is threaded into a top portion and projects into an opening ormouth 116. The lower edge or jaw has teeth 117. The bolt 115 and theteeth 117 combine to secure the beam hanger 113 to a beam flange. Asillustrated, the cable support 10 is secured to the exterior of theclamp by a rivet 109.

Turning now to FIG. 10, the cable support 10 is secured to the edge 106of the bottom flange 104 of the beam 102 by a hammer-on flange clip 120.The flange clip 120 is made out of spring steel, and has generallyU-shape. The clip 120 has flexible top and bottom legs which are spreadas the clip 120 is hammered on the flange 114. The edges of the top andbottom legs are provided with barbs 121 which bite into the flange 114to resist removal. The clip 120 may be hammered onto the flange edge 116simply by using a hammer to strike a clip bight portion 122. The bightportion 122 includes a downwardly extending tab 123 provided with a holewhich accommodates the rivet 109. The hammer-on flange clip 120 may beof the type sold by ERICO International Corporation of Solon, Ohio,U.S.A., under the registered trademark CADDY, with a catalogue partnumber of 4H58. Such hammer-on flange clips are available in a number ofsizes and fit the edges of most tees, angles, or flanges. For example,open joists typically have angles along the lower edge with projectingflanges and in combination with a hammer-on clip, the saddle support canbe positioned substantially anywhere along such structures.

FIG. 11 shows a C-purlin 126, a structure that derives its name from itssectional shape. The bottom leg of the C shape includes an upturnedflange 127 having an edge 128. The support 10 is riveted to the lowerend of C-purlin clip 130 by a rivet 109. The upper end of the C-purlinclip 130 includes a hook 131 with barbed edges, which fits over theC-purlin edge 128. The barbed edges resist dislocation. Such C-purlinclips are sold by ERICO International Corporation, of Solon, Ohio,U.S.A. under the registered trademark CADDY, and under the cataloguenumber VF. Such clips vary in size.

FIG. 12 illustrates a Z-purlin 134 that has a vertical web 135, andopposite horizontal flanges 136 and 137. Each of the horizontal flanges136 and 137 terminates in angled flanges 138 and 139. The cable support10 is riveted by a rivet 109 to the lower end of a Z-purlin clip 142.The Z-purlin clip 142 has a top hook 143 which snaps over the edge offlange 139. The hook 143 includes barbs adapted to bite into theZ-purlin 134 to resist withdrawal. Such Z-purlin clips are sold by ERICOInternational Corporation of Solon, Ohio, U.S.A., under the registeredtrademark CADDY, and the part number AF. Such Z-purlin clips come in avariety of sizes.

Drop wires or rods are often used to support various items or utilitiesfrom structural components or ceilings. In FIG. 13 the support 10 isconnected by the rivet 109 to a clip 151 that in turn is clipped to adrop wire or rod 150. The rivet 109 is secured to the approximate middleof the clip 151. The clip 151 includes upper and lower spring legs,although only the upper leg 152 is visible in FIG. 13. The spring legsare bent toward each other to create a lateral notch opening for receiptof the drop wire 150. When the legs are released on the wire or rod 150,sharp notch edges bite into and grip the drop wire 150. Such clips 151are typical of the multi-function clips for securing various items todrop wires, rods or flanges and are sold by ERICO InternationalCorporation of Solon, Ohio, USA, under the trademark CADDY, and alsounder the catalogue numbers 4Z34 and 6Z34 for example. Such clips 151may readily be secured to number 12 wire, ¼ inch plain rod, or ⅜ inchplain or threaded rod. Similar clips are shown in Havener, U.S. Pat. No.3,055,686. With the assembly of the support 10 and the clip 151, thesaddle support and thus a cable bundle may be positioned verticallyanywhere along the drop wire or rod 150.

Referring now to FIG. 14, the support 10 is shown mounted on an edge 155of a lower flange 156 of an angle 157. The cable support 10 may bemounted on the angle utilizing the same or a similar hammer-on clip 120(FIG. 10), but turned upside down. Accordingly the tab 123 now projectsupwardly. The saddle support is secured to the face of a vertical leg160 of an angle 161 by the rivet 109. A horizontal leg 162 of the angle161 is pivoted relative to a leg 163 of the clip 120 by a suitable pivotfastener, such as a rivet. Accordingly, the cable support may befastened on the edge 155 simply by hammering the clip 120 onto the edge155. The cable support 10 still may be able to swivel or pivot 360degrees about the vertical pivot axis between the horizontal leg 162 ofthe angle 161, and the clip 120. The intermediate angle 161 may be usedto secure the cable support 10 to the underside of a wide variety ofother clips or fasteners, such as those described elsewhere herein.

FIG. 15 shows a pair of cable supports 10 and 10′ in a treeconfiguration, with the top backbone portion 30 of the support 10′inserted into and secured to the bottom backbone portion 40 of thesupport 10. A threaded fastener 170, such as a bolt and nut, is used tosecure the supports 10 and 10′ together. The supports 10 and 10′advantageously can be secured together without the need for anyadditional hardware, such as an intermediate bracket. The coupled cablesupports 10 and 10′ may be secured to walls or other structure invarious ways, such as those shown in FIGS. 5-14 and described above.

FIG. 16 shows the cable supports 10 and 10′ secured to each other in aback-to-back configuration. Screws, bolts, rivets, or other suitablefasteners may be used to secure the top backbone portions 30 and/or thebottom backbone portions 40 together. As shown in FIG. 16, the cablesupports 10 and 10′ may be aligned vertically with one another, with allof the holes 32-36 and 42 (FIG. 1) aligned. Alternatively, the cablesupports 10 and 10′ may be offset relative to one another, with thefastener 170 coupling the cable supports 10 and 10′ passing throughdifferent holes in each of the cable supports 10 and 10′. The cablesupports 10 and 10′ advantageously can be coupled together in theback-to-back configuration without additional brackets or othernon-fastener hardware. The back-to-back coupling may be of cablesupports of the same size, as is illustrated in FIG. 16. Alternatively,the back-to-back coupling may be of cable supports of different sizes.

The tree coupling and back-to-back coupling may be combined, asillustrated in FIG. 17. Two tree-coupled cable supports 10 and 10′ arecoupled back-to-back to two other tree-coupled cable supports 10″ and10′″. As shown in FIG. 17, cable supports of unequal size may be treecoupled together, with the supports 10′ and 10′″ smaller than the cablesupport 10 and 10″. The back-to-back tree-coupled cable supports may besymmetric, having the same number and size of cable supports.Alternatively, there may be different numbers, sizes, and/or ordering oftree-coupled cable supports coupled back to back.

What follows now are alternate embodiments cable supports and devicesfor use therewith. In the description of the alternate embodiments,features common to previously-described embodiments are often mentionedonly in passing, or not at all. It will be appreciated that variousfeatures from the various embodiments may when suitable be combined in asingle device. Also, it will be appreciated that the various ways ofcombining and mounting cable supports, described above with regard toFIGS. 5-17, apply to the following devices as well.

Referring now to FIGS. 18-20, an alternate embodiment cable support 210includes many of the features described above with regard to the cablesupport 10 (FIG. 1). The cable support 210 includes a semicircularsaddle 212 having a curved inner surface 216. At a distal end of thesaddle 212, away from a backbone 214, a hinged part 262 can rotaterelative to the saddle 212 about a hinge 258. The hinged part 262 has astem 264 and a resilient finger tab 266. The stem 264 has a width thatis less than the width of the saddle 212. The finger tab 266 has tabportions 272 and 274, and fits into a slot 268 in a housing 270. Thisallows an opening 267 to a cylindrical cable-receiving area 222 to beseparately closed off, securing cables or other items in thecable-receiving area 222. The housing 270 has a central rib 271 forstructural strength, midway between sides 288 and 289 of the housing270. The rib 271 has a notch 291 to allow entry of the finger tab 266into the slot 268.

A wedge 280 on the upper tab portion 272 is used to engage the slot 268,to prevent the tab 266 from accidentally being dislodged from the slot268. The wedge 280 has a central opening 292 between a left wedge part294 and a right wedge part 296. When the tab 266 is inserted into theslot 268, the housing central rib 271 is received in the central wedgeopening 292. Optionally, a second wedge, also with a central opening,may be provided on the lower tab portion 274.

The backbone 214 includes an upper backbone part 230 and a lowerbackbone part 240. The backbone parts 230 and 240 are configured tointerfit, in a manner similar to the backbone parts 30 and 40 of thecable support 10 (FIG. 1), to allow tree connections to be made betweenmultiple of the cable supports 210.

Unlike the cable support 10 (FIG. 1), the cable support 210 has a pairof circular insert guide rails 310 and 312 on opposite axial(longitudinal) sides of the saddle 212 and the housing 270. The circularinsert guide rails 310 and 312 run along outside surfaces of the saddle212 and housing sides 288 and 289. The insert guide rails 310 and 312have a substantially constant radius from a central longitudinal axis314 of the cable-receiving area 222. The radius for the insert guiderails 310 and 312 is slightly greater than the radius of the part of thecurved saddle surface 216 that is farthest from the axis 314. The insertguide rails 310 and 312 flare out and away from the cable-receiving area222. The cable support 210 also has a bendable tab 316, hingedly coupledto a blunt tip 290 of the housing 270 at a hinge connection 318. Theinsert guide rails 310 and 312, and the bendable tab 316, are used forengaging an insert that may be placed in the cable support 210.

With reference now in addition to FIGS. 21-23, an insert 320 may beplaced in the cable support 210 to divide the cable-receiving area 222into a plurality of cable-receiving pockets 322. The insert 320 issometimes referred to herein as part of the cable support 210, althoughit is a separate part that fits into the saddle 212. The division of thecable-receiving area 222 into multiple pockets advantageously may beused to reduce cross-talk between multiple cables of a cable runsupported by the cable support 210, as explained in greater detailbelow. In addition, the insert 320 may reduce heat build-up in a cablerun of multiple cables supported by the cable support 210. The insert320 may ameliorate heat build-up in multiple ways. First, separation ofcables into different pockets 322 reduces the number of cables incontact with other cables, and increases the heat-rejecting surface areaof the cables. In addition, the insert 320 itself may act as a series offins, receiving heat from the cables and expelling heat to thesurrounding environment.

In the illustrated embodiment the insert 320 divides the cable-receivingarea 222 into five pockets 322, but it will be appreciated that theinsert may be configured to divide the area 222 into a greater or lessernumber of pockets. Different inserts forming different numbers ofpockets may be configured for insertion into the same cable support, toallow a user to choose how many pockets 322 the cable-receiving area 222is divided into. In addition, it will be appreciated that differentsizes of the cable support 210 may have different corresponding inserts320 for dividing different sizes of cable-receiving areas 222 intodifferent numbers of the pockets 322.

The insert 320 includes a pair of separate plastic hollow halves 324 and326. The insert halves 324 and 326 are inserted from opposite ends ofthe cable-receiving area 222, and snap together inside thecable-receiving area 222 to form the insert 320. The insert half 324 hasthree protruding fingers 330 that are inserted into the insert half 326as the halves 324 and 326 are brought together. The fingers 330 havewedge tabs 332 at their ends. The wedge tabs 332 engage correspondingholes 336 in the insert half 326. The wedge shape of the tabs 332 causesthe fingers 330 to be pushed radially inward as they progress into theinsert half 326. When the ends of the fingers 330 reach the holes 336the tabs 332 spring outward, engaging the holes 336. This outwardmovement of the tabs 332 may be accompanied by an audible click thatinforms the user that the insert halves 324 and 326 have been properlycoupled together. The wedge shape of the wedge tabs 332 provides alocking function, preventing the insert halves 324 from being separatedfrom one another by a simple axial pulling. In order to separate theinsert halves 324 and 326, the wedge tabs 332 may be pressed radiallyinward, to disengage them from the holes 336. The inward pressing of thewedge tabs 332 may be accomplished using fingers, or by use of ascrewdriver or other tool. After the wedge tabs 332 have been disengagedfrom the holes 336, the insert halves 324 and 326 may be pulled apart.

The insert halves 324 and 326 have keyed shapes that prevent rotation ofone of the insert halves 324 and 326 relative to the other. The inserthalf 326 has a series of protruding ridges 340 that correspond to theshape of portions of a hollow 342 of the insert half 324. The shape ofthe ridges 340 also corresponds to portions of the cross-sectional shapeof the insert half 326, with the ridges 340 being thinner continuationsof portions of the body of the insert half 326. The ridges 340 arecurved, with radial inward central portions and ends that are fartherfrom a central axis of insert half 326. When the insert halves 324 and326 are coupled together the ridges 340 are inside the hollow 342. Theridges 340 engage corresponding parts of the body of the insert half324, and prevent relative rotation between the insert halves 324 and326.

External surfaces 344 and 346 of the insert halves 324 and 326 may besymmetrical with one another, and may be continuous, without exposededges or other discontinuities, when the halves 324 and 326 are joinedtogether. The smooth transition between the external surfaces 344 and346 aids in preventing damage to cables that may come in contact withthe insert 320.

Since the external surfaces 344 and 346 are continuous, and may beidentical, the external configuration of the insert 320 will now bedescribed without regard to the separate insert halves 324 and 326. Theinsert 320 has five legs 350 emanating from an axially central insertbody 352. The legs 350 provide the division between the variouscable-receiving pockets 322 of the cable support 210. The central insertbody 352 has rounded surfaces 354, not presenting any flat surfaces orsharp edges to cables that may contact the central body 352. The helpsprevent damage to cables that rest on or may be pulled across thecentral body 352.

The insert legs 350 also have many rounded surfaces in areas wherecables may rest and/or be pulled across. The legs 350 have respectivenarrow necks 356 where the legs 350 merge into the central body 352. Thenecks 356 may have rounded surfaces 358 that merge seamlessly andcontinuously into the rounded surfaces 354 of the central body 352.

The legs 350 spread out, becoming wider in an axial (longitudinal)direction as one travels further in a radial direction from the centralbody 352. The legs 350 have rounded edges 360 and 362 facing in theopposite longitudinal directions, the directions along which cablesenter and leave the pockets 322. The legs 350 also have flat sidesurfaces 364 and 366 that transition smoothly to the rounded edges 360and 362.

At distal ends 368, farthest from the central body 352, each of the legs352 has a pair of hooks 370 and 372, with a curved surface 374 betweenthe hooks 370 and 372. When the insert 320 is installed in the cablesupport 210 the curved surfaces 374 are against the curved saddlesurfaces 216. The curved surfaces 374 may have substantially the sameshape as the curved saddle surface 216, enabling a close fit between thecurved insert surface 374 and the curved saddle surface 216. There maybe a gap of at most 0.01 inches (0.254 mm) between the curved insertsurface 374 and the curved saddle surface 216. The gap may be 0.005inches (0.127 mm) or less. The close fit between the insert surface 374and the saddle surface 216 helps in keeping cables from getting caughtor pinched between the legs 352 and the saddle 212.

The hooks 370 and 372 fit around and engage the insert guide rails 310and 312 on the cable support 210. The hooks 370 and 372 aid in keepingthe insert 320 properly positioned on the cable support 210, within thecable-receiving area 222. The hooks 370 and 372 are curved protrusions,having a curvature about the same as that of the insert guide rails 310and 312. The hooks 370 and 372 of each of the legs 352 protrude towardeach other, in directions substantially perpendicular to the housingside walls 288 and 289.

The insert guide rails 310 and 312 do not extend a full 360 degreesaround the cable support 210. The insert guide rails 310 and 312 do notextend on the stem 264, nor could they, since the stem 264 needs to bemovable to close and open the opening 267, after installation of theinsert 320. However, the hooks 370 and 372 on some of the legs 352 willalways be in engagement with the insert guide rails 310 and 312 when theinsert 320 is installed in the cable support 210.

The bendable tab 316 may be used to prevent rotation of the insert 320in at least one direction, after the insert 320 is installed on thecable support 210. The bendable tab 316 is biased toward being out ofcable-receiving area 322. While the tab 316 is outside of thecable-receiving area 322, the insert 320 is free to rotate within thecable-receiving area 322. When the bendable tab 316 is pushed downward,such as by being pushed down by the finger of a user, part of thebendable tab 316 enters the cable-receiving area 322. The bendable tab316 in the cable-receiving area 322 limits rotation of the insert 320within the cable-receiving area 322. As the insert 320 rotates in thedirection indicated by the arrow 376 in FIG. 21, the rotation is stoppedwhen one of the flat side surfaces 364 contacts the bendable tab 316.The insert flat side surface 364 presses against the bendable tab 316,driving the bendable tab 316 against the blunt tip 290, further pushingit into the cable-receiving area 322 and keeping it from bending backout of the cable-receiving area 322.

The cable support 210 may be made of molded plastic or of metals such asthose described above with regard to the cable support 10. The cablesupport 210 may have any of a variety of sizes, for example havingproducing cable-receiving areas having diameters of 3 inches (7.6 cm), 4inches (10.2 cm), or 6 inches (15.2 cm).

Turning now to FIG. 24A, details are given regarding the use of theinsert 320 in an installation 378 of a cable run that includes pluralcables 380 running from a first location 382 to a second location 384.The inserts 320 may be used to reduce alien crosstalk problems betweenindividual of the cables 380. Crosstalk is electrical interference thathappens between wire pairs in the same cable. Installation methods havelittle or no effect on crosstalk, other than providing a generous bendradius that prohibits a sharp bend, thus avoiding flattening of thecable geometry. In contrast, alien crosstalk occurs between wire pairsof different cables in close proximity. Running cables parallel andclose makes them act as a high frequency transformer. Alien crosstalkproblems become an increasing concern with higher performancecommunication cable that allows transmission of signals at higher rates.The inserts 320 may also be used to increase heat dissipation from thecables 380. Heat dissipation is an increasing concern in specifications,such as power over Ethernet, that allow transmission of power alongcables. In the following discussion alien crosstalk reduction isdiscussed at length, and then heat dissipation is addressed. It will beappreciated that the alien crosstalk reduction techniques describedbelow may also be applied to reduce or eliminate other electricalproblems, such as electrical noise. The discussion with regard to aliencrosstalk should therefore be interpreted as broadly applying to otherdefects in electrical signals.

As shown, the cable run 380 is supported by six cable supports 210 atlocations 391-396. In supporting a run of cables 380, alien crosstalkbetween individual of the cables 380 may be less of a concern in themiddle of the cable run, away from the end locations 382 and 384. Forexample alien crosstalk may be less of a concern more than 20 metersfrom one of the end locations 382 and 384. Thus in the illustratedinstallation 378 no inserts 320 are used in the central locations 393and 394. In the locations 393 and 394 only the cable supports 210 areused to support the cable run 380.

In contrast, inserts 320 are used in conjunction with cable supports 210at the locations near the ends 382 and 384 of the cable run 380. In theillustrated embodiment these are locations 391, 392, 395, and 396. Onlytwo supports are shown in each of the near-end regions near the cableend locations 382 and 384. However this is for illustration purposesonly, and it will be appreciated that in actual practice there may bemany more cable supports used to support such a length of a cable run.

Installation is simple for the locations 393 and 394 that do not use theinserts 320. At these locations the cables 380 are inserted into thecable-receiving area 322 through the opening 267 (FIG. 21). The opening267 is then closed off by inserting the tab 266 into the slot 268.

In installing the cables 380 into the inserts 320 and the cable supports210, first the insert 320 is mounted into the cable support 210. Thensome of the cables 380 are inserted through the opening 267 and into thefirst cable-receiving pocket 322. The insert 320 is then rotated in thedirection 398, with more of the cables 380 inserted in one or more otherof the cable-receiving pockets 322. The insert 320 can be rotatedfurther in the direction 398 after insertion of all of the cables 380.The bendable tab 316 is pushed down into cable-receiving area 222, andthe insert 320 and the cable bundle 380 are release. This causes someback-rotation of the insert 320, in a direction 399 that is opposite thedirection 398, which results in pressure against the bendable tab 316,pinning the bendable tab 316 against blunt tip 290 of the housing 270.This locks the bendable tab 316 in place within the cable-receiving area322, preventing further back-rotation of the insert 320. Finally thefinger tab 266 is inserted into the slot 268, closing the opening 267 ofthe cable support 210.

The above procedure may be repeated for the other locations that utilizethe inserts 320. The cables 380 may be initially randomly assigned tothe pockets 322, being placed by the user without regard to which of thecables 380 are placed together, and without regard to whether the samecables are placed together in different of the cable supports 210. Thereis an additional variable element in that the user may be instructed toapply different amounts of rotation to the inserts 320 at differentlocations, perhaps by providing a variable amount of twist to the insert320 after all of the cable 380 have been loaded.

Random assignment of the cables 380 to the pockets 322, and variableamounts of rotation of the inserts 320, may be sufficient to avoid crosstalk problems between the cables 380. The inserts 310 may reduce aliencrosstalk by any of a variety of mechanisms. The inserts 320 separatethe cables 380, which tends to reduce alien crosstalk. Also, thepresence of the inserts 320 reduces the number of cables 380 that thecable support 210 can accept, in comparison with a cable support 210without an insert. Further, the inserts 320 cause the cables 380 to runalong different paths with different lengths, thus varying the lengthsof individual cables.

After initial installation, varying the placement of the cables 380 andthe twisting of the inserts 320 without conscious selection, theperformance of the cable run 380 may be tested, and if necessaryimproved. Performance can be tested by use of a suitable tester such asFluke DTX-1800 CABLEANALYZER tester, available from Fluke NetworksCorporation, of Everett, Wash., USA. Such a tester analyzes the aliencrosstalk between twisted wire pairs in different cables, and is able toidentify individual cables or pairs of cables that are encounteringalien crosstalk problems. This may be useful in situations whereindividual cables are tagged or otherwise easily identifiable.

If a alien crosstalk problem is identified in testing, any of a varietyof remedial actions may be used to try to ameliorate the alien crosstalkproblem. One method is to twist one or more of the inserts 320. Thetwisting may be in the original twist direction 398. The bendable tab316 may require reengagement into the cable-receiving area 322 after thetwisting, in order to keep the insert 320 from back rotating.

Alternatively, one or more of the inserts 320 may be rotated in thedirection 399. This may be done by actively turning the insert 320 or byallowing pent-up forces on the cables 380 to back-rotate the insert 320in the direction 398. In either case the bendable tab 316 may need to beretracted before rotation in the direction 399 is possible.

Another alternative may involve shifting one or more cables 380 betweenthe pockets 322. For example, if one of the cables 380 is encountering aalien crosstalk problem with another of the cables 380 in the samecable-receiving pocket 322, the cable encountering the problem may beshifted to another of the pockets 322. This is of course the simplestpocket-shifting that might occur, and it will be appreciated that theprinciple of ameliorating alien crosstalk by pocket shifting may beextended to a wide variety of more complex situations andpocket-shifting remedies.

A further possible method of handling alien crosstalk problems is to addor change inserts 320. Although the inserts 320 generally may not beneeded except for cable supports within a certain distance of ends ofthe cables, additional inserts 320 may remedy alien crosstalk problemsthat are uncovered during testing. Inserts 320 may be added at to thecable supports 210 at one or more central locations, such as thelocations 393 and 394, by: 1) disengaging the tab 266 from the slot 268;2) coupling together the insert halves 324 and 326 in thecable-receiving area 322; 3) loading the cables 380 in thecable-receiving pockets 322 while rotating the insert 322, as describedabove; and 4) reengaging the tab 266 in the slot 268.

Alternatively the inserts 320 may be installed without removing thecables 380 from the cable support 210. The insert halves 324 and 326 maybe placed within the cables 380 on opposite sides of the cable support210, with the cables located between adjacent pairs of the insert legs350. The insert halves 324 and 326 may then be joined together at thecenter of the cable-receiving area 222, with the cables 380 alreadydistributed among the cable-receiving pockets 322. If desired, theinsert 320 may then be twisted.

In addition to adding inserts 320 where none were previously in use,alien crosstalk may also be eliminated or reduced by replacing one typeof insert 320 with another type of insert 320. For example an may bereplaced by an insert having a greater number of pockets, or an inserthaving pockets that are more spatially isolated from one another.

It will be appreciated that the various methods described above may beused individually or in combination to reduce or eliminate instances ofalien crosstalk. The same method or methods may be repeated untilsatisfactory test results are achieved, with alien crosstalk withinacceptable limits. If desired, a hierarchy of the methods may beutilized, perhaps first trying easier steps, like twisting one or moreof the inserts 320, before progressing to more involved steps likeredistributing the cables 380 between the various cable-receivingpockets 322 of one of the inserts 320. A retesting may be performedafter each step to see if alien crosstalk problems have beensatisfactorily resolved before progressing to the next step.

It will also be appreciated that the methods described above may beapplied to situations where multiple of the cable supports 210 arecoupled together in tree configurations and/or in back-to-backconfigurations. Additional methods of reducing alien crosstalk may beapplicable to such situations, for example shifting a cable from onecable support to another.

As noted above, the inserts 320 also improve heat dissipation from thecables 380. Heat dissipation becomes more of a concern forspecifications that allow power to be transmitted over cables. Anexample is the IEEE standards on power over Ethernet, which allow up to30 watts of energy to be transmitted along a cable that is part of abundle. Since a bundle may contain 30 cables, for example, it will beappreciated that a cable bundle may produce a significant amount ofheat, depending of course on the number of cables in the bundle thattransmit power.

The inserts 320 may improve the heat dissipation from the cables 380 ina number of ways. The inserts 320 spread the cables 380 apart bydividing them up to run through the cable-receiving pockets 322. Thisallows more air space around the separated groups of the cables 380,allowing more air flow through the cables 380, and thus increasing heatdissipation from the cables 380 to the surrounding air.

In addition, heat dissipation may be increased by contact between thecables 380 and the insert 320. The legs 350 act as fins in dissipatingheat transferred from the cables 380 to the insert 320. For improvingheat dissipation from the inserts 320, the inserts 320 may be used inconjunction with supports 210 made out of metal, such as die castaluminum or zinc. Steel cable supports would also have good heatdissipation, but have poorer characteristics in terms of preventing orreducing alien crosstalk.

The increased heat dissipation from use of the inserts 320 provides asubstantial advantage over many other devices for installing cables.Conduits for cables often have poor heat transfer characteristicsbecause little or no air flow occurs within the conduit. Solid-bottom orclosed cable trays also restrict air flow around cables, which alsomakes for poor heat transfer between the cables and the surrounding air.Wire cable trays allow for some air flow, but still have the shortcomingof running all of the cables grouped together. This reduces the cablearea available for dissipating heat to the environment, and concentratesthe heat-producing cables together in a group.

FIGS. 24B-24D illustrate other ways to improve performance, by placementof inserts 320 between adjacent of the cable supports 210, or between anend of the cables 380 and a first or last cable support 210 supportingthe cables 380. The inserts 320 are placed at sag locations 400 and 401of the cables 380, where the cables 380 sag to some extent between cablesupport locations 392, 393, and 394. At the sag locations 400 and 401the cables 380 may sag an allowed amount relative to the locations wherethe cables 380 are supported by the cable supports 210. For example, thepermissible amount of the sag may be around 6 inches (15.2 cm), and maybe as much as 12 inches (30.5 cm). The inserts 320 spread the cables 380apart, allowing more air flow between the cables 380. This allows moreheat to be dissipated out of the cables 380.

With reference to FIG. 24C, the insert 320 may be placed on its ownamong the cables 380, separating the cables 380 out from each other. Theweight of the insert 320 may be adequately supported by the cables 380.There may be enough tension in the cables 380 to keep the cables 380 inthe pockets 322 between the legs 350 of the insert/separator 320,without the need for any device to keep the cables 380 in place.

However a device to keep the cables 380 in place may be employed, asshown in FIG. 24D. FIG. 24D shows a cable spreader or separator 404 thatincludes a strap 406 that wraps around the circumference of the insert320. The strap 406 wraps around the outer curved surfaces 374 of thelegs 350. The strap 406 does not cinch or pinch the cables 380, and maynot even touch any of the cables 380. The strap 406 does keep the cables380 from coming out of the pockets 322. The strap 406 may be any of avariety of devices that surround the insert 320, and keep the cables 380in place. The strap 406 may be any of a variety of flexible devices thatsurround the insert 320, and secure the strap 406 around the insert 320.For example, the strap 406 may be a VELCRO strap, a tie down, or aratcheting ridged plastic band securing device, such as a device soldunder the trademark SLAP SNAP by DT Search & Design, LLC, of St. Joseph,Mo., USA. The ratcheting device allows the insert 320 to be rotatedrelative to the strap 406, and maintained in the same location it hasbeen rotated to. This feature allows the insert 320 to be rotated withina ratcheted or otherwise securable strap 406 to alleviate aliencrosstalk problems.

As shown in FIGS. 24B-24D, the inserts or cable spreaders 320 may beplaced in the cables 380 without any direct connection to any structure.However alternatively the inserts 320 may be linked to structure.

FIG. 25 illustrates a second alternate embodiment cable support 410. Thecable support 410 is similar in many respects to the cable support 10shown in FIG. 1. However, the cable support 410 has backbone parts 430and 440 that overlap in making a tree connection between multiple of thecable supports 410. With reference now in addition to FIG. 26, the cablesupport 410 has a step 441 at a top end of the lower of the lowerbackbone part 440, where the lower backbone part 440 joins with a saddle412. The top backbone part 430 of a cable support 410′ is received onthe lower backbone part 440 of the cable support 410. An edge 443 of thetop backbone part 430 is touching or close to the step 441 of the lowerbackbone part 440. This prevents (or limits) pivoting of the cablesupport 410′ relative to the cable support 410, in the plane of thebackbone 414, when the cables supports 410 and 410′ are connectedtogether in a tree configuration.

FIG. 27 shows a third alternate embodiment cable support 460. The cablesupport 460 is similar in most respects to the cable support 210 (FIG.18). The cable support 460 shares with the cable support 410 (FIG. 25)the overlapping feature for a tree configuration. The cable support 460has a top backbone portion 490 configured to overlap a bottom backboneportion 500 of another cable support to form a tree configuration.

FIG. 28 shows a fourth alternate embodiment cable support 510. The cablesupport 510 has a continuous backbone 514 from the top of the support510 to the bottom of the support 510. The backbone 514 is hollow exceptfor one or more supporting ribs, such as a rib 515. The support 510 alsohas a right-angle connection 517 between the backbone 514 and a saddle512. The right angle connection 517 serves much the same function as thestep 441 of the cable support 410 (FIG. 25), preventing pivoting of anupper backbone portion 530 of the support 510 relative to the lowerbackbone portion 540 of another support 510, when the portions 530 and540 to couple together the supports in a tree configuration.

FIG. 29 shows a pair of fifth alternate embodiment cable supports 610and 610′, coupled together in a tree configuration. The cable support610 has a pair of opposed holes 611 and 613 in a backbone 614 and a stem664. The holes are used to receive a pulley 675. The backbone 614 also apair of notches 677 and 678 for receiving ends of a wire 679 coupled tothe pulley 675. The pulley 675 may be used to facilitate pulling cablesalong a cable run. After the cables are pulled into place the pulley 675may be removed. The cables may then be secured within a saddle 612 byengaging a finger tab 666 in a slot 668. The slot 668 is in an angledmetal piece 669 that is secured to the backbone 614 by insert molding.

The saddle 612 is a partially hollow piece of molded plastic, with acentral spine of material running along the center of the saddle 612from the backbone 614 to the stem 664. The saddle 612 has acorrugated-like structure on either side of this central spine, withhollows 681 alternating with ribs 683. This structure reduces the weightof the cable support 610 and the amount of plastic needed, while stillproviding good strength.

The cable support 610′ has a saddle 612′ with a similar corrugated-likestructure. The saddle 612′ has a generally rectangular shape, incontrast to the semicircular shape of the saddle 612.

FIGS. 30 and 31 shows a cable support 710 that includes a pinned hingeconnection 758 between a pair of separate portions, a saddle 712 and ahinged part 762. The hinged part 762 has a forked end 765 with throughopenings 767. The forked end 765 fits around a saddle end 769 with anopening 771, lining up the opening 771 with the openings 767. A hingepin 775 fits into the openings 767 and 771. The hinge pin 775 is securedto allow the hinged part 762 to hingedly pivot relative to the saddle712. The parts of the cable support 710 may all be molded plastic parts.

FIG. 32 shows an insert 820 that can be used in a manner similar to theinsert 320 (FIG. 21). The insert 820 has longitudinally forward and aftblunt ends 823 on the halves 824 and 826, and the ends of the legs 850.The blunt ends 823 are more comfortable than sharp ends for gripping bya user to turn the inset 820.

FIG. 33 shows another alternative insert or cable separator 870. Theinsert or cable separator 870 has plural substantially-parallel walls872 emerging from a curved bottom 874. The walls 872 define between themseparate plural cable-receiving spaces, chambers, or pockets 876.Placing cables in the chambers or pockets 876 separates the cables fromone another, helping to prevent alien cross talk or other electricalinterference between cables.

Each of the walls 872 has a thin neck portion 880 between a bottom thickportion 882 and distal tabs or fingers 884 at the free end of the wall872. In the illustrated embodiment each of the walls 872 has four tabsor fingers 884 a-884 d, although it will be appreciated that the walls872 may alternatively have a greater or lesser number of the fingers ortabs 884. The tabs 884 are separated from another, allowing theindividual tabs 884 a-884 d to flex about the neck 880, which acts as ahinge.

The tabs 884 a-884 d have respective ramps 890 a-890 d on one side ofeach of the tabs, with the tabs 884 a-884 d being narrower at the top,furthest away from the curved bottom 874. Down the ramps 890 a-890 d,toward the neck portion 880, the ramps 890 a-890 d increasingly protrudeinto the chambers or pockets on either side of the wall 872. In theillustrated embodiment the outer ramp 890 a and 890 d face onedirection, with the middle ramps 890 b and 890 c facing the oppositedirection. It is advantageous to have the ramps 890 on either side of achamber or pocket 876 face each at corresponding tabs. Thus in one ofthe chambers or pockets 876 the middle ramps 890 b and 890 c on eachadjoining wall 872 may protrude inward into that chamber or pocket. Inthe next chamber or pocket 876 the outer ramps 890 a and 890 d from eachof the adjoining walls 872 may protrude inward into that chamber orpocket.

The ramps 890 are used for retaining cables in the chambers or pockets876. As the cables are pressed down into the chambers 876 the cablespress against the surfaces of the ramps 890 that protrude into thosechambers 876. This presses the corresponding tabs 884 outward to allowthe cables to pass by them and into the main cable-receiving areas ofthe chambers or pockets 876. Once the cables pass by the tabs 884 andinto the chambers or pockets 876, the tabs 884 resiliently spring backinto place. Now the ramps 890 aid in retaining the cables in thechambers or pockets 876, since the cables must get past the thick endsof the ramps or wedges 890 into order to get out of the chambers orpockets 876. The thick ends of the ramps 890 are not sloped to aid inpressing apart the corresponding tabs 884. This acts to lock the cablesin place in the chambers or pockets 876.

The insert 870 may be configured to fit into and be secured in a J-hookcable support. In the illustrated embodiment the insert 870 has a pairof flanges 894 and 896 extending out from the curved bottom 874 and fromthe end walls 898 of the insert 870. The flanges 894 and 896 extend froman opposite major surface of the curved bottom 874 than the majorsurface from which the walls 872 extend. The flanges 894 and 896 may beconfigured to extend around opposite edges of a J-hook cable supportwhen the insert 870 is placed in a cable-receiving area defined by acable-receiving saddle of the cable support. It will be appreciated thatthe insert 870 may be securable with a cable-receiving area of a cablesupport by other suitable structures and/or mechanisms.

In addition, the insert or cable separator 870 may also be used outsideof cable supports. In a manner similar to that shown in FIG. 24B, theinsert 870 may be used to separate cables of a cable run between cablesupports, for example at sag locations between cable supports. Inserts870 at sag locations may be placed at any of a variety of orientationsto separate cables in any of a variety of directions. It will beappreciated that it may be appropriate to refer to the inserts describedhere as “cable separators,” since they can be used other than as insertsin cable supports.

The insert 870 may be made from a single piece of plastic. The insert870 may be formed by injection molding or another suitable process.

It will be appreciated that the curved bottom 874 may be replaced byother support structures for linking and supporting the walls 872. Suchalternative support structures may have other shapes, and may be part ofthe same single piece of plastic as the walls 872.

Although the invention has been shown and described with respect to acertain preferred embodiment or embodiments, it is obvious thatequivalent alterations and modifications will occur to others skilled inthe art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and theannexed drawings. In particular regard to the various functionsperformed by the above described elements (components, assemblies,devices, compositions, etc.), the terms (including a reference to a“means”) used to describe such elements are intended to correspond,unless otherwise indicated, to any element which performs the specifiedfunction of the described element (i.e., that is functionallyequivalent), even though not structurally equivalent to the disclosedstructure which performs the function in the herein illustratedexemplary embodiment or embodiments of the invention. In addition, whilea particular feature of the invention may have been described above withrespect to only one or more of several illustrated embodiments, suchfeature may be combined with one or more other features of the otherembodiments, as may be desired and advantageous for any given orparticular application.

1. A cable support comprising: a cable-receiving saddle; and a hingedpart hingedly coupled to the saddle; wherein the hinged part rotatesabout the saddle at a hinge.
 2. The cable support of claim 1, whereinthe hinged part and the saddle are at least in part made from acontinuous single piece of material; wherein the hinge is a weakenedportion of the single piece of material that is weaker than adjacentportions of the saddle and the hinged part; wherein the hinged partincludes a tab that is selectively engaged with a slot in the cablesupport to selectively close an opening providing access to the saddle;and wherein the tab is a resilient finger tab having an upper tabportion that is hingedly coupled to a lower tab portion.
 3. A cablesupport comprising: a cable-receiving saddle that defines acable-receiving area; and an insert that fits into the cable-receivingsaddle; wherein the insert divides the cable receiving area into aplurality of cable-receiving pockets.
 4. The cable support of claim 3,wherein the insert is a plastic insert.
 5. The cable support of claim 3,wherein the insert has plural substantially-parallel walls; and whereinthe pockets are between respective adjacent pairs of the walls.
 6. Thecable support of claim 5, wherein the walls include tabs with ramps; andwherein the ramps aid in securing cables within the cable-receivingpockets.
 7. The cable support of claim 3, wherein the insert includes acentral body and plural legs extending outward from the central body;and wherein the plural legs define the cable-receiving pockets.
 8. Amethod of installing cables comprising: placing the cables in pluralcable supports, wherein at least one of the cable supports includes aninsert that divides a cable-receiving area into plural cable-receivingpockets; testing the cables for alien crosstalk; and if necessary,reconfiguring the cables within the cable supports to reduce aliencrosstalk.
 9. The method of claim 8, wherein the reconfiguring includestwisting the insert.
 10. The method of claim 9, wherein thereconfiguring includes moving at least one of the cables to another ofthe pockets.
 11. The method of claim 9, wherein the reconfiguringincludes adding an additional insert to one of the cable supports thatdid not previously have an insert.
 12. A method of installing cablescomprises: spreading the cables apart using inserts that define pluralcable-receiving pockets, wherein the cables each pass through one of thepockets; and supporting the cables with plural cable supports.
 13. Themethod of claim 12, wherein the inserts each include a central body andplural legs extending outward from the central body; and wherein theplural legs define the plural cable-receiving pockets.
 14. The method ofclaim 12, wherein the inserts each include plural substantially-parallelwalls; and wherein the pockets are between respective adjacent pairs ofthe walls.
 15. The method of claim 12, wherein the cables include one ormore power transmitting cables.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein atleast some of the inserts are in respective of the cable supports. 17.The method of claim 12, further comprising rotating the at least some ofthe inserts relative to the cable supports.
 18. The method of claim 12,wherein at least some of the inserts are in sag portions of the cables,not in the cable supports.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein theinserts in the sag portions of the cables are each surrounded by a strapthat retains the cables in cable-receiving pockets of the inserts. 20.The cable support of claim 1, wherein the hinge includes a pin that fitsinto openings in the saddle and the hinged part.
 21. The cable supportof claim 20, wherein the hinged part includes a tab that is selectivelyengaged with a slot in the cable support to selectively close an openingproviding access to the saddle.
 22. A cable separator comprising: pluralfirst structures that define plural cable-receiving pockets betweenrespective adjacent pairs of the structures; and a second structureconnected to and supporting all of the first structures.
 23. The cableseparator of claim 22, wherein at least part of all of the firststructures and at least part of the second structure are parts of asingle plastic piece.
 24. The cable separator of claim 22, wherein thesecond structure is a central body; and wherein the first structures areplural legs extending outward from the central body
 25. The cableseparator of claim 22, wherein the first structures aresubstantially-parallel walls extending from the second structure.